How far will your US$35 go?

I got everything from the above photo for a total of less than US$35 -- one doll and 2 fashion sets. Mattel is selling the 45th Anniversary Black Barbie for the same price. That's one doll with less articulation and a fashion set. 

With high inflation rates all over the world, I wonder how Mattel will survive with Chinese brands as competition. Not by short-changing their customers, I hope. Wait until you learn how much the executives and  the CEO from Mattel get.

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Please note that while I patronize the Chinese brand, because it's a more economical option, I am against the Chinese government in invading our territories.

The Budget Sabrina Dress

I've been wanting a dress similar to the black and white gown worn by Audrey Hepburn in the movie "Sabrina".  I made this around 2011, while this was done around 2015. There were dolls released wearing the dress I wanted but the prices and the ease of purchasing prohibited me. Ten years later, I saw these dresses being sold in an online Chinese shop.

I bought two of the white and gently reaped the seams apart and made the dress below.  I got each dress for a little over a US dollar! It's been a while since I made a dress. Life of a working class got in the way and aging doesn't help either. To be able to create this dress was really satisfying for me and I missed that satisfaction.

I have to add... I love this clone doll (I call Aubrey), more than the 1998 Audrey Hepburn doll. She was the stand in for Audrey before I got the Mattel doll, but after having the 1998 head, I realized that the aesthetic of that head doesn't appeal to me.  I love the Silkstone version but then as a working class doll collector on a budget, I'll rather think of creative ways to get the look but not pay the price.

No shade to those who prefer to pay, of course.